Follow the Light
My Christmas season started in
October this year. I didn’t know it at the time. That day, October 20, I was
just shocked and saddened by the loss of a young friend who died unexpectedly.
About two weeks later, I awoke to
hear the results of our nation’s election. I do not wish to be political here,
but I was devastated. Not because I have hope in any man’s ability to lead our
nation, but I felt that these results signaled the end of the greatness of my
country and of my blessed way of life here. This, too, was an unrecognized part
of my Christmas celebration this year.
Early November also brought my
birthday, and I was still mourning for my country and my friend’s family when
an unexpected ray of light came into my day. Reminding me where my hope and
foundation lie, my husband gave me a gorgeous, illustrated copy of the gospels.
http://www.makotofujimura.com/four-holy-gospels/
. The breath-taking beauty of this gift
helped me as I refocused my eyes on my Savior.
During the rest of November, two
other significant things added their hidden meaning. First, to my additional distress,
I heard of a rash of local suicides and other demonstrations of sorrow and
hopelessness. Second, I was a tester of a new product – acrylic paints and
mediums – and was required to paint daily. (Such a blessing!) I worked on a
painting that was taking shape so nicely – I was loving it!
Finally, in mid-November, I began to
recognize what has become a predominant theme in my thinking during this season.
I began to recognize the tremendous hopelessness, darkness, and despair in this
world as the dark backdrop against which the tiny Baby, the ray of pure,
hopeful light, entered our planet’s routine. I knew these words before – all my
life I have sung the carols and read the Gospel representation of HIS coming.
But this year, I feel it. The enormity, the burden, the blackness of the never-ending
cycle of daily life. The desperate realization that things will never REALLY be
better. THIS, my friends, is why the KING of the Universe wrapped Himself in
our tiny, ordinary flesh. To rescue us from our sin and our despair. To give us
hope and assurance of final victory.
In response to this insight, there
have already been two opportunities for me to respond and celebrate HIS coming.
Last week, we as a worship team at our church arranged our part of the service
to express the melancholy, dark, unsettling backdrop of sin, followed by the
victory of Christ’s coming, death, and resurrection on our behalf. It was a new
and intriguing way to arrange Christmas music, and was illuminating to me and
expressed my sense of awe and worship to my KING.
And
my painting that I was working on. I love the way it has turned out, (and I
hope to do a series based on this one). There is hope and light against a dark
background, a representation of the cross, and one of the manger which held the
Light of the World on that holy night.
More than anything, I want to follow
that ONE Who came to rescue me. I want to follow the Light.
Coram
Deo,
